Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1887-12-29

The First Commencement of
the w. j. Academy.

y
filled with large assembly, who were
anxious to witness the pleasing cere-
monies of the first commencement ever
held in that long established school.
Upon the platform sat the President
of the institution, DIR. William Elmer,
and on his left were Rev. H. Fl. Beadle,
Rev. s. W. Beach and Principal Caleb
Allen. Upon his right sat six members
of the graduating class of 'S7, Messrs
B. A. Peacock, Roscoe Compton,
George Hampton, Barron P. Dubois,
Frank Moore, and Robt. M. Loper.
Mervin Randolph, member of the
class was not present, being detained
in Philadelphia by business and Wal
lace c. Rice, another graduate was
| absent, being confined to his home by
/ illness.
Shortly after eight o'clock Rev. Fl.
H. Beadle offered prayer and Presi-
| dent Elmer announced an essay Glass
Vine" by Frank Moore. The paper
was exceedingly we'll written. 1t spoke
of the time which had arrived for the
class of ~ to depart from the old
school to go out into life, which lead
in paths widely different. But, the
reader thought that the memories of
! the old school days and alma mater
would linger in the mind forever. The
essay paid a high tribute to the school
and hoped that the vine which had
already taken root, would grow and
that the school would flourish. He
urged that the class Of which he was
proud to be a member would be among
the doers, and be guarded by that
science Of prayer which impels men
forward
THE Happy Little Wife a pleasing
recitation was given by Abel Pierce,
junior of the school.
Robert Loper then read carefully
prepared essay in which he bid the old
school farewell. 1t was hard to part
from within the wassof this institution
of learning, and yet he would not post
pone the parting. 1t was time he
thought for the members of the class
to meet the trials and abstracts of life
which are always to be set aside be
fore the haven of success is reached.
He declared that the class must be up
and doing their duty, and if not among
rank which is entitled to the love and
respect of all Christian fnen and
women He honored the teachers for
the patience they had shown the
To him the bitterest parting was with
the classmates. 1t was hard to bid
i good bye to the fond companionship
which had existed among them and
we'll.
| Christian Brinton, a student, read
the poem THE Cobbler of Hagernan, :"
in an interesting way, and Miss
Schively, one of the teachers, recited
the touching ''Thora." Her manner
and elocution could not have been
excelled, and she responded to a de-
served encore.
The President then announced the
Rev. w. II. Belden for an address.
The learned divine in q few words
told the people present OF the growth
of the school since he had become
opinion it still needed. He spoke Of
the financial assistance which should
be rendered and hoped that the peo
pie would see to it that the school,
should continue to grow. He spoke
of the diplomas which the young men
were to receive before the exercises
were over, and told them of the mean
/ ing of the word, twice as much of a
thing" He then said that the grad
yates had double that which they had
when they entered the institution and
hoped that they would improve in life
as they had in school. The Reverend
gentleman then welcomed the boys
into life. He urged them to grow up
grand and noble and be among the
most honored of men, never forgetting
the fact Of that which underlies all
time success, the love of the eternal.
DIR. Allen, the principal, then gave
an interesting description of the almost
phenomenal growth of the school, the
facts of which have already appeared
in these columns. He informed the
audience that within the last few days
the last desks have been filled and the
school, with it's present capacity, was
doing it's utmost. Eleven teachers
now made up the staff, and seven of
these were employed during the entire
school hours.
The distribution of prizes, the dona-
tiens of friends to the school was then
announced, the principal calling out
the names of the successful students,